Is it normal to spot after starting the pill

You can also get spotting on birth control if you messed up the way you take it. If your spotting lasts longer than three months, happens because you tend to use birth control incorrectly, or is coming with other concerning symptoms, see a doctor. Korin is a former New Yorker who now lives at the beach. She received a double B.

Korin has been published in Read more. Topics contraception sexually transmitted infections periods Pregnancy. Sign up for our SELF Daily Wellness newsletter All the best health and wellness advice, tips, tricks, and intel, delivered to your inbox every day.

Blood may mix with clear cervical fluid on its way out of the uterus, turning your discharge pink. This color may also be a sign of a number of…. There's a new debate about birth control and whether or not women should still take placebos for a week, while taking daily birth control pills.

When it comes to emergency contraception, there can be a lot of confusion. Natural Cycles and other fertility awareness apps can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy.

Our review explains what you need to know. There are alternatives. Thinking about using the birth control ring? Annovera is one of your options — here's how to decide whether it's right for you.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Causes Pregnancy Duration How to stop it Who experiences it? See your doctor Takeaway Breakthrough bleeding is any unscheduled bleeding you experience between periods or during pregnancy. How long does it last? How to control or stop it. Who is most likely to experience it? The takeaway. Read this next. If it has been longer than 6 months and spotting still occurs, switching to a different type of pill may help.

Spotting may be light enough that a person does not have to wear a pad or tampon. However, some people may wish to wear a thin panty liner to avoid staining clothing. A light or regular tampon can also help. While some people take birth control pills for decades without any problems, others experience troublesome side effects. A person should call the doctor if any of the following occur:.

If a person is still spotting after taking the pill for 6 months, the doctor may wish to change the prescription.

Several different types and brands of birth control pill are available. The doctor may prescribe a pill with a higher estrogen dose or one with a different progestin formulation. People should also look for possible signs and symptoms of an infection. In addition to spotting, these can include:. Spotting on the pill is likely to occur in the first 6 months of starting hormonal birth control. If it occurs after this time or there are symptoms of infection, it is best to speak to a doctor for further evaluation.

A doctor may prescribe a different type of pill or recommend nonhormonal birth control methods instead. Most women have a regular menstrual cycle, but periods can become irregular under some conditions.

Others will need to try a different pill brand, with different levels of hormones. Spotting can also be caused by missed pills, as the drop in hormone levels can cause a small amount of withdrawal bleeding. Withdrawal bleeding that is lighter, or shorter than your period before you were taking the pill.

Withdrawal bleeding that changes slightly over time while on the pill. Having little or no bleeding during your placebo week after taking your pills correctly. Download Clue to track when you've taken your pill. Article was originally published on September 13, Are vaginal fluids really all that different?

In this article, we explain how to identify vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, and cervical fluid. Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control.